W4OP

Episode 292 - Dale Parfitt - W4OP

Dale Parfitt, W4OP, developed a love for operating  VHF and above, including moonbounce operation, from an early exposure to a 6 meter Gonset Communicator, or Gooney Box. His love for electronics grew into a career as an electronics engineer and the entrepreneur founder of Par Electronics where custom filters and antennas are Dale’s special forte.  W4OP tells his story in this QSO Today.

Show Notes

Sponsor Transcription

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Hometown: Elmira, NY

Current QTH: Sylva, North Carolina
First license:  WV2YPY, Novice, 1962, later upgrade to General WA2YPY

Most complex home-brew project: 160-10 Meter Transceiver

Dale’s company: PAR Electronics, Inc.

Favorite test equipment: 
Agilent 8713 Vector Network Analyzer 
Adret Signal Generator

People
Bill Parfitt, WB2NEV

Elmers
Cousin Bill is: WB2NEV
CW Elmer  Joe Spedico W2ZBD

Randy Terrell,  K9BCT
Jim Stafford,  W4QO
Wes Hayward, W7ZOI- “Progressive Receiver”

Rigs:
Vintage Zenith Floor Radio 
Olson 1 transistor radio

First Rig: 
Heathkit DX20 Transmitter
Heathkit DX40 Transmitter
Eico 720 Amateur Transmitter
Magic Eye Tube
Hallicrafters SX-96 Receiver
National Radio NC188
Gonset Gooney Box on 6 meters

Current Rig:
Elecraft K2 HF Transceiver
Elecraft K3S HF Transceiver with 144 mhz option
Roofing Filters
Transverter 1296 to VHF
13.5 Foot Dish Antenna
Drake 2B Receiver
Clegg Venus 6 Meter Receiver

Terms: 
Shortwave Radio
Radio Moscow
Moscow Mailbag
RC Airplanes ham bands
Crystal Set
Chemung Electronics, Elmira, NY
Moonbounce Communications
EME - Earth Moon Earth
Avanti Research and Development - West Palm Beach
HF Rectangle Antennas
VHF/UHF Omniangle Antennas
ARRL EME Contest
1296 Mhz band is optimum for EME
LNA - Low Noise Amplifiers for EME
Epigee
Parigee
Elliptical Orbit
Libration Fading
Faraday Rotation
Circular Polarity
Galileo GPS
Meteor Scatter
Aurora Radio Reflections
Syracuse University, BSEE, MSEE
Avanti Research and Development - unusual antenna patents
3rd Order Intermod Calculation
Genesys Filter Design Software Package,  now owned by Keysight
RFID Industry
Omniangle Antenna 
Rectangle Antenna 
Halo Antenna
Squalo Antenna
Amateur VHF/UHF Rover                                       
Fourier Series Calculator
W4OP PR8 Receiver
Edistone 890 Radio Dial
Heathkit SB313 Cabinet
Water Slip Decals
S-Meter
FDIM, Four Days In May
Club Saver Two Meter Rig Project
Filter S21 Characteristic
Drake B Line

Greatest challenge facing ham radio: Forgetting the history of our amateur radio.  Hams should listen more and become more technical. 

Advice to returning hams: Don’t be shocked at all of the changes.  

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W4OP PR8 HF Transceiver

W4OP All Mode HF Transceiver

W4OP Six-Meter Transceiver

Gonset Communicator, 6 Meters